Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsDefinitionTypesHow Often It OccursSymptomsCauseTreatmentPrognosisCoping
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Definition
Types
How Often It Occurs
Symptoms
Cause
Treatment
Prognosis
Coping
Lung cancer recurrence is lung cancer that comes back after a period of being undetectable. It can occur in the same location as the original cancer or in a different part of the body.
The odds of a recurrence depend on many factors, including the type and stage of cancer. Lung cancer recurrences can sometimes be brought back into remission with treatment, but those that are more advanced and widespread are generally hard to treat.
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A lung cancer recurrence happens when the cancer comes back—either in the lungs or a different part of the body—after at least a year of being undetectable on tests. If the disease recurs less than a year from the original diagnosis, it’s likely a progression (worsening) of the cancer instead of a recurrence.
Most lung cancers that recur tend to do so between two and five years after the original diagnosis.
Secondary Primary CancerWhen someone who had lung cancer develops an entirely different cancer after a period of remission, it is called a secondary primary cancer. The new cancer can be distinguished from a recurrence of lung cancer when its cells are examined under a microscope.
Secondary Primary Cancer
When someone who had lung cancer develops an entirely different cancer after a period of remission, it is called a secondary primary cancer. The new cancer can be distinguished from a recurrence of lung cancer when its cells are examined under a microscope.
Probability
The odds that lung cancer will recur depend on many factors, including thetype of lung cancerinvolved and how the original cancer was treated.Lung cancer recurrence may be more likely when a person doesn’t change the modifiablerisk factorsthat contributed to their cancer in the first place. For example, moderate to heavy smokers have a more than seven-fold higher risk of recurrence than lung cancer survivors who quit smoking.
General signs of cancer—such as fatigue andunintentional weight loss—may signal a recurrence. A person may experience other symptoms based on the location of the cancer.
For a local or regional recurrence, symptoms include:
With NSCLC, around 83% of recurrences aremetastatic—meaning cancer has spread to distant parts of the body instead of near the site of the original tumor.Because of this, the symptoms can vary depending on where the metastatic tumor is located (most commonly the brain, liver, or bones).
When lung cancer recurrence happens in the brain, symptoms may include:
Liver recurrence of lung cancer may cause:
Deep pain in the chest, back, shoulders, or extremities may be signs that cancer has come back in the bones.
People with lung cancer recurrence sometimes developparaneoplastic syndromes—a rare group of disorders in which the immune system attacks healthy central nervous system cells. This can cause the loss of fine motor skills, slurred speech, difficulty walking or swallowing, memory loss, dizziness, vision problems, and seizures. These disorders are rare and more common with SCLC than NSCLC.
In rare cases, a treatment originally used to destroy cancer cells increases a person’s risk of another cancer. This is the case with radiation-induced secondary malignancy, which is when radiation therapy leads to the development of a new type of cancer in the irradiated tissues.
Most lung cancer recurrences are advanced and unlikely to be cured.However, treatments are available that may increase both survival time and quality of life.
A healthcare provider will recommend a treatment plan based on where the recurrence is, therapies used in the past, and a person’s overall health. This may include:
How long a person will live with recurrent lung cancer varies greatly and depends on many factors. These include the site of the recurrence, the cancer type, a person’s general health, and the treatments previously received.
It is difficult to cope with a lung cancer recurrence. The disappointment can be overwhelming, and lead to depression and anxiety. These emotions are entirely normal.
To help yourself cope, consider the following:
Summary
A lung cancer recurrence is when the cancer comes back after treatment, particularly if there have been no signs of it for at least a year. Lung cancer usually recurs within five years and it is often metastatic, which means it has spread.
A recurrence is unlikely to be cured, but treatments can increase survival time and improve a person’s quality of life. If you have symptoms of a lung cancer recurrence, see your healthcare provider.
20 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Cancer Institute.Recurrent cancer.American Cancer Society.What is cancer recurrence?National Cancer Institute.Recurrent cancer: when cancer comes back.Karacz CM, Yan J, Zhu H, Gerber DE.Timing, Sites, and Correlates of Lung Cancer Recurrence. Clinical Lung Cancer. 2020.Dracham CB, Shankar A, Madan R.Radiation induced secondary malignancies: a review article.Radiat Oncol J. 2018;36(2):85-94. doi:10.3857/roj.2018.00290Rajaram, Ravi et al.Recurrence-Free Survival in Patients With Surgically Resected Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.Chest. 2024.Asai N, Ohkuni Y, Kaneko N, Yamaguchi E, Kubo A.Relapsed small cell lung cancer: treatment options and latest developments.Ther Adv Med Oncol.2014;6(2):69-82. doi:10.1177/1758834013517413Johns Hopkins Medicine.Lung cancer warning signs.D’Antonio C, Passaro A, Gori B, et al.Bone and brain metastasis in lung cancer: recent advances in therapeutic strategies.Ther Adv Med Oncol. 2014;6(3):101-114. doi:10.1177/1758834014521110American Cancer Society.Liver metastases.Anwar A, Jafri F, Ashraf S, Jafri MAS, Fanucchi M.Paraneoplastic syndromes in lung cancer and their management.Ann Transl Med. 2019;7(15):359. doi:10.21037/atm.2019.04.86Kamran SC, Berrington de Gonzalez A, Ng A, Haas-Kogan D, Viswanathan AN.Therapeutic radiation and the potential risk of second malignancies.Cancer. 2016;122(12):1809-21. doi:10.1002/cncr.29841Subotic D, Van Schil P, Grigoriu B.Optimising treatment for post-operative lung cancer recurrence.Eur Respir J. 2016;47(2):374-378. doi:10.1183/13993003.01490-2015Sameera S. Kumar, SS., McGarry, RC.Management of local recurrences and regional failure in early stage non-small cell lung cancer after stereotactic body radiation therapy.Translational Lung Cancer Research. 2019.Chan BA, Hughes BG.Targeted therapy for non-small cell lung cancer: current standards and the promise of the future.Transl Lung Cancer Res. 2015;4(1):36-54. doi:10.3978/j.issn.2218-6751.2014.05.01Bustamante Alvarez JG, González-Cao M, Karachaliou N, et al.Advances in immunotherapy for treatment of lung cancer.Cancer Biol Med. 2015;12(3):209-22. doi:10.7497/j.issn.2095-3941.2015.0032Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.Local Therapies for the Treatment of Stage I Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer and Endobronchial Obstruction Due to Advanced Lung Tumors.Sasaki H, Suzuki A, Tatematsu T, et al.Prognosis of recurrent non-small cell lung cancer following complete resection.Oncol Lett. 2014;7(4):1300-4. doi:10.3892/ol.2014.1861Rossi A.Relapsed small-cell lung cancer: platinum re-challenge or not.Journal of Thoracic Disease. 2016.American Cancer Society.Coping With Cancer Recurrence.Additional ReadingNational Cancer Institute.Non-small cell lung cancer treatment (PDQ)—health professional version.
20 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Cancer Institute.Recurrent cancer.American Cancer Society.What is cancer recurrence?National Cancer Institute.Recurrent cancer: when cancer comes back.Karacz CM, Yan J, Zhu H, Gerber DE.Timing, Sites, and Correlates of Lung Cancer Recurrence. Clinical Lung Cancer. 2020.Dracham CB, Shankar A, Madan R.Radiation induced secondary malignancies: a review article.Radiat Oncol J. 2018;36(2):85-94. doi:10.3857/roj.2018.00290Rajaram, Ravi et al.Recurrence-Free Survival in Patients With Surgically Resected Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.Chest. 2024.Asai N, Ohkuni Y, Kaneko N, Yamaguchi E, Kubo A.Relapsed small cell lung cancer: treatment options and latest developments.Ther Adv Med Oncol.2014;6(2):69-82. doi:10.1177/1758834013517413Johns Hopkins Medicine.Lung cancer warning signs.D’Antonio C, Passaro A, Gori B, et al.Bone and brain metastasis in lung cancer: recent advances in therapeutic strategies.Ther Adv Med Oncol. 2014;6(3):101-114. doi:10.1177/1758834014521110American Cancer Society.Liver metastases.Anwar A, Jafri F, Ashraf S, Jafri MAS, Fanucchi M.Paraneoplastic syndromes in lung cancer and their management.Ann Transl Med. 2019;7(15):359. doi:10.21037/atm.2019.04.86Kamran SC, Berrington de Gonzalez A, Ng A, Haas-Kogan D, Viswanathan AN.Therapeutic radiation and the potential risk of second malignancies.Cancer. 2016;122(12):1809-21. doi:10.1002/cncr.29841Subotic D, Van Schil P, Grigoriu B.Optimising treatment for post-operative lung cancer recurrence.Eur Respir J. 2016;47(2):374-378. doi:10.1183/13993003.01490-2015Sameera S. Kumar, SS., McGarry, RC.Management of local recurrences and regional failure in early stage non-small cell lung cancer after stereotactic body radiation therapy.Translational Lung Cancer Research. 2019.Chan BA, Hughes BG.Targeted therapy for non-small cell lung cancer: current standards and the promise of the future.Transl Lung Cancer Res. 2015;4(1):36-54. doi:10.3978/j.issn.2218-6751.2014.05.01Bustamante Alvarez JG, González-Cao M, Karachaliou N, et al.Advances in immunotherapy for treatment of lung cancer.Cancer Biol Med. 2015;12(3):209-22. doi:10.7497/j.issn.2095-3941.2015.0032Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.Local Therapies for the Treatment of Stage I Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer and Endobronchial Obstruction Due to Advanced Lung Tumors.Sasaki H, Suzuki A, Tatematsu T, et al.Prognosis of recurrent non-small cell lung cancer following complete resection.Oncol Lett. 2014;7(4):1300-4. doi:10.3892/ol.2014.1861Rossi A.Relapsed small-cell lung cancer: platinum re-challenge or not.Journal of Thoracic Disease. 2016.American Cancer Society.Coping With Cancer Recurrence.Additional ReadingNational Cancer Institute.Non-small cell lung cancer treatment (PDQ)—health professional version.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National Cancer Institute.Recurrent cancer.American Cancer Society.What is cancer recurrence?National Cancer Institute.Recurrent cancer: when cancer comes back.Karacz CM, Yan J, Zhu H, Gerber DE.Timing, Sites, and Correlates of Lung Cancer Recurrence. Clinical Lung Cancer. 2020.Dracham CB, Shankar A, Madan R.Radiation induced secondary malignancies: a review article.Radiat Oncol J. 2018;36(2):85-94. doi:10.3857/roj.2018.00290Rajaram, Ravi et al.Recurrence-Free Survival in Patients With Surgically Resected Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.Chest. 2024.Asai N, Ohkuni Y, Kaneko N, Yamaguchi E, Kubo A.Relapsed small cell lung cancer: treatment options and latest developments.Ther Adv Med Oncol.2014;6(2):69-82. doi:10.1177/1758834013517413Johns Hopkins Medicine.Lung cancer warning signs.D’Antonio C, Passaro A, Gori B, et al.Bone and brain metastasis in lung cancer: recent advances in therapeutic strategies.Ther Adv Med Oncol. 2014;6(3):101-114. doi:10.1177/1758834014521110American Cancer Society.Liver metastases.Anwar A, Jafri F, Ashraf S, Jafri MAS, Fanucchi M.Paraneoplastic syndromes in lung cancer and their management.Ann Transl Med. 2019;7(15):359. doi:10.21037/atm.2019.04.86Kamran SC, Berrington de Gonzalez A, Ng A, Haas-Kogan D, Viswanathan AN.Therapeutic radiation and the potential risk of second malignancies.Cancer. 2016;122(12):1809-21. doi:10.1002/cncr.29841Subotic D, Van Schil P, Grigoriu B.Optimising treatment for post-operative lung cancer recurrence.Eur Respir J. 2016;47(2):374-378. doi:10.1183/13993003.01490-2015Sameera S. Kumar, SS., McGarry, RC.Management of local recurrences and regional failure in early stage non-small cell lung cancer after stereotactic body radiation therapy.Translational Lung Cancer Research. 2019.Chan BA, Hughes BG.Targeted therapy for non-small cell lung cancer: current standards and the promise of the future.Transl Lung Cancer Res. 2015;4(1):36-54. doi:10.3978/j.issn.2218-6751.2014.05.01Bustamante Alvarez JG, González-Cao M, Karachaliou N, et al.Advances in immunotherapy for treatment of lung cancer.Cancer Biol Med. 2015;12(3):209-22. doi:10.7497/j.issn.2095-3941.2015.0032Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.Local Therapies for the Treatment of Stage I Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer and Endobronchial Obstruction Due to Advanced Lung Tumors.Sasaki H, Suzuki A, Tatematsu T, et al.Prognosis of recurrent non-small cell lung cancer following complete resection.Oncol Lett. 2014;7(4):1300-4. doi:10.3892/ol.2014.1861Rossi A.Relapsed small-cell lung cancer: platinum re-challenge or not.Journal of Thoracic Disease. 2016.American Cancer Society.Coping With Cancer Recurrence.
National Cancer Institute.Recurrent cancer.
American Cancer Society.What is cancer recurrence?
National Cancer Institute.Recurrent cancer: when cancer comes back.
Karacz CM, Yan J, Zhu H, Gerber DE.Timing, Sites, and Correlates of Lung Cancer Recurrence. Clinical Lung Cancer. 2020.
Dracham CB, Shankar A, Madan R.Radiation induced secondary malignancies: a review article.Radiat Oncol J. 2018;36(2):85-94. doi:10.3857/roj.2018.00290
Rajaram, Ravi et al.Recurrence-Free Survival in Patients With Surgically Resected Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.Chest. 2024.
Asai N, Ohkuni Y, Kaneko N, Yamaguchi E, Kubo A.Relapsed small cell lung cancer: treatment options and latest developments.Ther Adv Med Oncol.2014;6(2):69-82. doi:10.1177/1758834013517413
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Lung cancer warning signs.
D’Antonio C, Passaro A, Gori B, et al.Bone and brain metastasis in lung cancer: recent advances in therapeutic strategies.Ther Adv Med Oncol. 2014;6(3):101-114. doi:10.1177/1758834014521110
American Cancer Society.Liver metastases.
Anwar A, Jafri F, Ashraf S, Jafri MAS, Fanucchi M.Paraneoplastic syndromes in lung cancer and their management.Ann Transl Med. 2019;7(15):359. doi:10.21037/atm.2019.04.86
Kamran SC, Berrington de Gonzalez A, Ng A, Haas-Kogan D, Viswanathan AN.Therapeutic radiation and the potential risk of second malignancies.Cancer. 2016;122(12):1809-21. doi:10.1002/cncr.29841
Subotic D, Van Schil P, Grigoriu B.Optimising treatment for post-operative lung cancer recurrence.Eur Respir J. 2016;47(2):374-378. doi:10.1183/13993003.01490-2015
Sameera S. Kumar, SS., McGarry, RC.Management of local recurrences and regional failure in early stage non-small cell lung cancer after stereotactic body radiation therapy.Translational Lung Cancer Research. 2019.
Chan BA, Hughes BG.Targeted therapy for non-small cell lung cancer: current standards and the promise of the future.Transl Lung Cancer Res. 2015;4(1):36-54. doi:10.3978/j.issn.2218-6751.2014.05.01
Bustamante Alvarez JG, González-Cao M, Karachaliou N, et al.Advances in immunotherapy for treatment of lung cancer.Cancer Biol Med. 2015;12(3):209-22. doi:10.7497/j.issn.2095-3941.2015.0032
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.Local Therapies for the Treatment of Stage I Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer and Endobronchial Obstruction Due to Advanced Lung Tumors.
Sasaki H, Suzuki A, Tatematsu T, et al.Prognosis of recurrent non-small cell lung cancer following complete resection.Oncol Lett. 2014;7(4):1300-4. doi:10.3892/ol.2014.1861
Rossi A.Relapsed small-cell lung cancer: platinum re-challenge or not.Journal of Thoracic Disease. 2016.
American Cancer Society.Coping With Cancer Recurrence.
National Cancer Institute.Non-small cell lung cancer treatment (PDQ)—health professional version.
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